Chapter 12 Making a Profit

Everyone froze, then abruptly turned their heads.

Ling Wei was seen leaning against the door frame, her hair loosely tied up, her collar slightly open, and she was raising her hand to cover a casual yawn, her eyes still glistening with sleepiness.

Behind her, Qing Shu stood still like a pine tree, while the Shen family servants who had been guarding the door were now pale-faced, bowing their heads and holding their breath, as if there was a tangible, invisible pressure that made them not even dare to breathe.

Su Hui's expression changed drastically, and Shen Zhiyi's smile froze on his lips.

Ling Wei's gaze lazily swept over them, finally landing on Shen Zhilan's straight yet solitary back.

She shuffled over, naturally reached out, slipped her hand through his arm, and with a little effort, pulled him up from the ground.

"Your Shen family..." She patted non-existent dust off Shen Zhilan's sleeve, her tone tinged with confusion, "Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about the term 'quiet recuperation'?"

Su Hui quickly suppressed his panic, forced a dry smile, and bowed, saying, "Your Highness is awake? Did the servants disturb Your Highness? Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we were just chatting with the children..."

“I heard that.” Ling Wei picked at her ear and casually replied, “What martyrdom, shame, villa… it’s all pretty commonplace.”

She looked up, and in those usually half-closed eyes, Su Hui's forced composure was clearly reflected:

"Is Su Zhengjun's integrity about forcing the living to be buried with the dead?"

"When my elder sister passed away, my mother and father were still filled with compassion and could not bear to blame her. How come it is a sin for you to be alive and breathing?"

Her tone grew colder, carrying a sense of pressure: "Or do you think my royal palace is so worthless that it can't even accommodate or support the people left behind by my sister?"

That's too harsh a statement.

Su Hui's forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat, and his legs went weak: "Your Highness is too kind, I dare not! It's truly for Lan'er's health; the secluded retreat on Yuntai Mountain is too quiet..."

"Oh, for the sake of your health." Ling Wei nodded, as if she had taken it to heart, and said thoughtfully, "I've heard that hot springs are more nourishing than mountain breezes."

Su Hui was puzzled and could only agree, saying, "Your Highness is right."

“That’s perfect.” Ling Wei suddenly smiled. “My hot spring resort in the west of the city is warm and the water is good. It’s more comfortable than Yuntai Mountain. For a quiet retreat, you should naturally choose the best place.”

Su Hui continued, "Your Highness is right."

Could it be that this Fifth Prince doesn't actually want to keep Lan'er under his nose? His tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and he vaguely felt that he might have accidentally succeeded in pleasing the nobleman.

However, Ling Wei changed the subject: "As for the money your Shen family originally intended to use for the renovation of the villa and the service of the servants... don't waste it."

She admired Su Hui's pale and flushed face.

"Convert it directly into cash and give it to Zhilan."

Su Hui's lips trembled as she tried to retort, but when she met Ling Wei's all-knowing gaze, all her words choked in her throat.

"...Your Highness, you have thought this through thoroughly." He finally managed to squeeze out these words through gritted teeth.

"It was my oversight. Everything concerning Lan'er should be arranged by Your Highness. As for those... tokens of appreciation, I will prepare them as soon as possible and send them to the Prince's residence."

“Before tonight,” Ling Wei added casually, “I want to see it. Qing Shu, you stay here and help Su Zhengjun count it. The numbers have to be correct, and the sentiment has to be genuine.”

"Yes." Qing Shu responded and took a step forward.

Su Hui's vision blurred, and her throat tasted metallic.

Ling Wei no longer looked at him; she turned to Shen Zhilan:

"I'm leaving. This bed at your place is so uncomfortable it hurts my back. I'd rather go back home and sleep more soundly."

Shen Zhilan was pulled along by her, and followed slowly.

He lowered his head, his gaze falling on their clasped hands. Her hands were smaller than his, with long, slender fingers, which were now firmly gripping his cold fingers.

A sudden warmth emanated from the limited contact area, almost burning hot, and spread into his dormant knuckles, making his entire hand slightly numb.

Ling Wei pulled the person along, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, as they walked through the courtyard of the Shen Mansion.

Upon receiving the news, Minister Shen rushed to the second gate, wearing a polite smile, as if the turmoil in the study in the backyard had never happened.

Ling Wei simply nodded casually and then led the people into the carriage.

The carriage curtains were drawn, blocking all outside views.

Ling Wei let go of her hand, leaned back against the car wall, closed her eyes to rest, as if the knocking and hitting had exhausted her laziness.

The carriage smoothly drove away from the street where the Shen residence was located. After a long while, Ling Wei finally spoke, her voice tinged with post-event weariness:

"When it comes to being shameless, they're the best."

Shen Zhilan slowly raised her eyes and looked at the woman opposite her who seemed to have fallen asleep.

His fingers, hidden in his sleeve, silently closed, tightly gripping the remaining warmth in his palm.

In the evening, the Prince's Mansion indeed received the silver notes sent by the Shen family.

Qing Shu reported to Ling Wei: "Your Highness, Minister Shen said that it is to replenish the dowry for Minister Shen."

Upon hearing this, Ling Wei let out a soft chuckle through her nose.

"Adding more makeup?" A hint of amusement flashed in her eyes. "This makeup is quite substantial."

Ling Wei instructed Qing Shu to deliver the gifts sent by the Shen family to Shen Zhilan's Jingwu Courtyard.

No sooner had she given the order than the overly energetic voice of the Sixth Princess Ling Xi rang out from outside: "Fifth Sister! Fifth Sister, I've brought some truly fine wine!"

Before he finished speaking, the man had already slipped into the study with practiced ease, carrying an exquisite wine jar in his arms and wearing a proud, ostentatious smile.

“We drank the wedding wine too quickly last time, so it doesn’t count.” Ling Xi put the wine jar on the table, broke the seal, and a clear and mellow aroma of wine immediately filled the air. “This is a vintage wine that I specially asked my mother for. Let’s drink it slowly today. I have to prove my drinking capacity.”

Ling Wei let her do as she pleased, and the two sisters drank together over a few simple dishes.

After a few drinks, Ling Xi couldn't stop talking.

"Fifth Sister, you don't know," Ling Xi leaned closer, her eyes bright and clear, "I told Mother last time that I also wanted to marry two beautiful concubines like those in your household, and guess what happened?"

“My mother told me to get out of the way, saying, ‘It just so happens that the Shen family needed someone to settle down, and the Yi family wanted to show their loyalty, so they put together a pair.’”

She mimicked Emperor Jinghe's tone, "'Does he really think the Fifth Prince is picking and choosing cabbages?'"

Ling Wei listened, a slight smile curving her lips. She shook her head and finished the wine in her glass.

Ling Xi rested her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight, and suddenly said softly, without any apparent reason, "Sometimes I feel that the palace... is quieter than before."

Ling Wei paused as she poured the wine.

“I can’t quite put my finger on what’s different,” Ling Xi said, swirling her wine glass with a slightly unfocused look in her eyes. “It just feels like… my second and third sisters seem busier, and there’s always a certain distance between them when they talk.”

She raised her eyes and looked at Ling Wei, a rare hint of confusion appearing in her usually smiling eyes. "Even you, Fifth Sister, you still look the same, but I always feel that you are quite tired."

Ling Wei felt a slight tickle in her heart. She didn't speak, but slowly twirled the wine glass in her hand.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking it." Ling Xi chuckled self-deprecatingly, tilted her head back and drank her wine. "It's just that I sometimes think, if my older sister were still here... she would definitely have a way to make everyone feel the same as before."

Big sister.

The name stirred silent ripples in their hearts.